With injuries leaving their roster shorthanded, the Nets need their superstars to play the part if they are to have a chance at getting past the Celtics.
In Wednesday's game two loss, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving didn't come close to their star level, particularly Durant, who was shut down in historic fashion by the Boston defense.
Durant finished the night just 4-for-17 from the floor, while Irving shot just 4-for-13, marking the first time the two have ever both shot under 33 percent from the field in a game as teammates, including the postseason.
As for Durant himself, he was kept silent from the floor in the second half, as the Celtics erased a 17-point Brooklyn lead. Durant missed all 10 of his field goal attempts while committing four turnovers, and those 10 bricks are the most field goal attempts without a make for Durant in any half of his career, including playoff games. So far in the series, Durant is shooting just 13-for-41 from the floor, just 31.7 percent, and has 12 turnovers against eight assists.
Per ESPN NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry, that is the first time in Durant's career that he has shot under 40 percent while committing over six turnovers in consecutive games.
Simply put, the Celtics defense is completely neutralizing Durant, who still finished with 27 points thanks to getting to the line 20 times, but unless he can get it going again from the floor, Brooklyn doesn't stand a chance.
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